CHAPTER VI.

CALHOUN, JACKSON, AND NATIONAL GOVERNMENT 134

Calhoun in the beginning a leader and advocate of national views in the House of Representatives--Sectional division of States on the question of slavery--Missouri compromise--Calhoun’s change of opinion--The nullification of South Carolina--Calhoun’s “inexorable logic” considered--The doctrine of nullification not asserted from time of the Kentucky resolves until revived by South Carolina--Jackson’s proclamation--His firmness--His experience in political matters as lawyer, legislator, and judge--Congress passed a force bill to collect duties--Act reducing duties also passed--Strong resolutions of legislatures of the Southern States against nullification--Supremacy of the government maintained by judges appointed by all the political parties in every case and over all the States--Judgments of State courts constantly reversed until the time of the civil war--It is Congress, not the court, that makes the laws--Judge Story--History after the threatened nullification of South Carolina--Legislation and decision of Supreme Court extending slavery--The South’s preparation for disruption of the Union--Virginia opposed the government without passing an ordinance of secession--Military academies of Southern States--The government stronger than Hamilton thought--The exceeding excellence of the Constitution--New vigor of South Carolina as a free State.

NULLIFICATION, SECESSION, WEBSTER.